Stiffening-strip.



A. A'. ACKBBMAN.

STIFFBNINGSTBIP. PrLIoATIoI HMD-S'B11; 4. ma,

Patented Oct. 27, 1908.

o.. wAsmNcroN, n, cA

UNITED STATES T OFFICE.

ALBERT A. ACKERMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS, TO

WARREN FEATHERBONE COMPANY OF MICHIGAN, OF THREE OAKS, MICHIGAN, A COR-PORATION OF MICHIGAN.

STIFFENING-STRIP.

To all whom it may concern.'

Bc it known that I, ALBERT A. AGKERM'AN, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Stiii'ening-Strips, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to stiffening strips, such for example, as lareused for dress and corset stays, and the objects of my invention are:First: to produce a stiffening strip which shall be pliable in adirection across the strip. Second: to produce a strip which shallrequire a comparatively small amount of thread for securing' theindividual cords together in the form of a fiat strip, and third: toincrease the unity of the strip by minimizing the danger of separationof the different cords when the outer threads become accidentally brokenat points here and there along the strip.

I attain my objects in the manner illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure l represents a single bundle or cord offibers. Fig. 2 represents a stiffening strip composed of three cordsstitched together. Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of the strip on agreatly enlarged scale, showing the manner of looping or interlockingthe outer threads. Fig. 4L is a cross sectional view showing each stitchor bight of the outer thread inclosing two longitudinal cords. In Figs.3 and 4 the outer threads are shown in a loose condition for the purposeof illustrating the course of each thread in the preferred construction.Fig. 5 is a face view of the finished product upon a scale approximatelynatural size.

Similar letters refer to similar' parts throughout the several views.

A single cord is shown in Fig. 1 and consists of a number of fibers abundled together and permanently held by the wrapping thread Z9. Thesaid bers a may consist of various substances, such as tampico, fibersof horn, or bers of feathers cords and blades formed of the lattersubstance being commonly known as feathcrbone.

In the forming of a stiffening strip or blade according to my inventionthree or more cords constructed as above described are brought side byside and then stitched in a Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. September 4, 1903.

Patented Oct. 27, 1908.

Serial No. 171,943.

Zigezag manner, as best shown in Fig. 2. In this Zig-zag formation thestitch extends obliquely from one edge of the strip to the other, andthen returns obliquely across the strip, but always progresses along thestrip in the same direction.

The form of stitch is best shown in Figs. 3 and 4 in which the upperthread c is engaged by the lower thread d by means of a looping orinterlocking shown at all. It is desirable that the lower thread Z inthus engaging the upper thread c pass backward upon itself in the mannershown, thereby making a true stitch. By this construction when the outerthreads are drawn tight, as occurs in actual practice, there is aknotting effect and the outer threads will be able to hold the cords atogether even though said outer threads be broken in many places. Thisresults in a distinct advantage over the form of stay where the outerthreads are wound around the cords, for when wound, if the threadbreaks, it tends to greatly weaken the strip. i

It will be understood that the stitching may be single or multiple, thatis to say, there may be two threads lying parallel caught by one threadat the bottom, or caught by two threads at the bottom, but in eitherevent there will be a single set of stitches. The interlocking occurs atthe edge ing the individual strands together, rendering such wrapping orbinding unnecessary. If preferred, however, an additional binding orwrapping thread may be used. The number of stitches in any straightstretch or reach of the zigzag stitching will depend of course upon thewidth in which the strip is manufactured; but it is essential that ineach ofsaid straight stretchesor reaches of the stitching there shall bea plurality of stitches. That is to say, after each change of directionof the stitching to form the zigzag effect there shall be a plurality ofstitches before the direction is again changed.

It will be obvious from an examination of the drawings and from theabove description, that the strip produced by this manner of stitchingwill be leXible at the points where the outer threads interlock orengage each other, thereby greatly improving the quality and flexibilityof the strip. Another advantage in this construction is that acomparatively small amount of exterior thread is required for securingthe individual cords together.

In producing a strip for practical use, it is within my contemplationthat the strip may be sized, calendered, or pressed and covered, aspreferred by the manufacturer.

lhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. An article of the class described, coinprising a plurality ofcontinuous strands arranged side by side and stitching Zig-zagged acrossall the strands, the threads of the stitching interlocking at aplurality of points in each reach of the Zig-Zagged stitching wherebythe strands are all bound and secured together solely by said stitchinginto a flat resilient blade or tape.

2. An article of the class described, comprising a plurality ofcontinuous resilient strands arranged side by side and a continuousZig-Zagged row of stitches therethrough7 each reach of said zig-zaggedrow of stitches being arranged to embrace all of the strands wherebythey are all bound and secured together into a flat resilient blade ortape solely by said stitching, there being a plurality of stitchesthrough said blade in each of the reaches, said strands consisting ofibered quill portions of feather bound together by a wrapping thread.

3. An article of the class described, co1nprising a plurality otcontinuous resilient strands arranged side by side and a continuousZig-Zagged row of stitches therethrough, each reach of zig-Zagged row ofstitches being arranged to embrace all of the strands whereby they areall bound and secured together into a flat resilient blade or tapesolely by said stitching, there being a plurality or' stitches throughsaid blade in each of the reaches.

4. An article of the class described, coniprising a plurality ofcontinuous resilient strands arranged side by side and a continuouszig-Zagged row of stitches therethrough, each reach of said zig-zaggedrow of stitches being arranged to embrace all of the strands wherebythey are all bound and secured together into a flat resilient blade ortape solely by said stitching, the strands consisting of ibered quillportions of feather bound together by a wrapping thread.

5. An article of the class described, co1n-V prising a plurality ofcontinuous resilient strands arranged side by side and a continuouszig-zagged row of stitches therethrough, each reach of said Zig-Zaggedrow of stitches being arranged to embrace all of the strands wherebythey are all bound and secured together into a fiat resilient blade ortape solely by said stitching.

ALBERT A. ACKERMAN. Vitnesses OTTO J. VEIL, JENNIE MCDONALD.

